Opinions – Page 22 – Windhoek Observer

14 Aug

Finding Common Ground: Sustainable Development in Namibia

Opinions

Mandy Hattingh Namibia is well known for its biodiversity and ecotourism appeal. Equally, its rich endowment of mineral resources has, for over a century, fuelled economic growth, infrastructure development, and job creation. As the government considers the Revised National Policy on Prospecting and Mining in Protected Areas and Other Environmentally Sensitive Areas, it does so at a moment that demands nuance and pragmatism. This policy will test whether Namibia can meaningfully balance two cornerstones of its national identity: its global conservation standing and its status as one of Africa’s most stable, investment-friendly mining jurisdictions. Achieving this balance is both possible…

14 Aug

The RedForce Conundrum: A Debt Crisis Without Easy Answers

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

The decision by Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa to cancel all RedForce contracts with local authorities has ignited a heated national debate. On one side, municipalities insist that external debt collectors are essential to keep their finances afloat. On the other, residents reject the very idea of private companies hounding them for overdue payments. It is a messy situation, but one fact is undeniable: many residents of our towns are in arrears for municipal services, water, electricity, refuse collection, for a variety of reasons. Some are genuine hardships; others are simply a refusal to pay. The rule…

13 Aug

From Bailouts to Boomtowns: Rethinking How Our Towns Make Money

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Let’s not sugar-coat it, our local authorities are broke. And it’s no longer just a small accounting problem that can be patched up; it’s a full-blown crisis that threatens the future of some of our towns. The problem is not only that they don’t have money. It’s that the very way our town councils do business is broken. Here’s the reality: in many of our towns, residents are unemployed or scraping by on very little. Municipalities depend almost entirely on rates, taxes, water, and electricity payments, but when people can’t pay, that money never comes in. The result? Services get…

12 Aug

Time to Set the Rules on State Funerals

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s decision to put a moratorium on state funerals is a move that deserves both praise and serious public debate. For years, Namibia has stumbled along without a transparent, universally accepted set of rules for who qualifies for a state, official, or heroes funeral. The result? Confusion, bitterness, and public quarrels at moments when the nation should be united in grief. The recent passing of Dr. Moses Amweelo reignited these tensions. Many felt the former minister and respected political figure deserved, at the very least, an official funeral. Others supported the government’s decision to hold the line after the…

12 Aug

The Essence of Activism, Are we supposed to be “poor”? – A response to Jonathan Kariseb

Featured, Opinions

Onesmus Shekuza Iyambo On my way home from the AR headquarters after a long, tiring but productive meeting with our regional leadership as we were discussing about different strategies and tactics we will deploy in preparation for the upcoming regional and local authority elections, I stopped by Otjomuise shopping centre to buy newspapers. As I was perusing The Namibian Newspaper on Friday, 27 July 2025, I came across an article by Jonathan Kariseb, scandalously titled “On Job Amupanda, Elites and the Burden of Responsibility: A Personal Reflection”. In one of his famous essays, ‘The Responsibility of Intellectuals’, Noam Chomsky tells…

12 Aug

The Sound of Silence: Are we serious about local democracy?

Opinions

Gillian Kalf Is the silence across the country two months away from elections a sign of voter disengagement in local politics? The loud silence says a lot about our democracy and enforcing our decentralisation efforts in our governance and body politics of the nation. Last year this time, the nation's political landscape was a hive of activity. From political leaders outlining visions for the future to citizens passionately debating succession, the country was alive with political discourse. What is the silence all about then? Stakeholders – political parties, civil society organisations, the electorate and, most importantly, the politicians. The Electoral…

12 Aug

When life takes a detour: The value of having an income you can rely on

Observer Money, Opinions

Nikanor Ruben Most people don’t wake up thinking about what would happen if they couldn’t work tomorrow. We tend to assume that the ability to earn a living is a constant, as dependable as the sun rising. But the truth is, life has a way of reminding us just how fragile that assumption can be. Whether you're in your 20s just starting your career or well into your 50s with responsibilities stacked high, the ability to earn a monthly income is central to almost everything: paying the bills, covering school fees, sending money home, and keeping food on the table.…

11 Aug

Madam President, How About a Jobs Summit?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia’s unemployment crisis is not just a statistic. It is the quiet desperation in villages and towns, the hollowed-out dreams of graduates, and the simmering frustration of a generation with no place to go. We have heard the speeches and seen the plans. What we need now is not another promise, but a national reckoning on jobs. When President Nandi-Ndaitwah declared in her inaugural speech that “in Namibia, we are too few to be poor,” it wasn’t just a hopeful slogan. It was a challenge. A reminder that our small population should be an advantage, yet unemployment and underemployment continue to choke opportunity…

11 Aug

Ethical procurement practices and the impact on state-owned enterprises, the procurement profession, and small and medium enterprise development

Featured, Opinions

Zucky Bauleth-Nashima and Lusia Kornelius In Namibia, public procurement is rigorously administered and regulated under the Public Procurement Act and related regulations, ensuring fair participation in economic activities and equitable opportunities, particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The private sector, particularly SMEs, is crucial to the production and supply of goods and services, playing a vital role in ensuring availability, operational efficiency, and sustainability. However, there has been a notable demand for goods and services in offices, Ministries and Agencies (OMAs). This adversity has heightened the need to go beyond local supplies and extend the sourcing of goods and…

11 Aug

DON’T ENTERTAIN INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, THEY CAN COST YOU!

Featured, Opinions

Morna Ikosa Recent reports cited that Namibia has one of the highest suicide rates in Africa. Although financial distress has been confirmed to be one of the leading causes of suicides, it is time we look deeper into the matters of the mind. Dr Caroline Leaf, a metacognitive neuroscientist who has studied the mind for nearly 40 years, states that “75-98% of mental, physical, and behavioural illnesses stem from toxic thinking.” These statistics are alarming and cannot be ignored. Although Men's Mental Health Month has ended, both men and women must recognise and prioritise the importance of maintaining a consistent…